The Crusades

Pope Urban II preaches the first Crusade

1095

At Clermont, in France, Pope Urban II preaches a Crusade to retake the Holy Land from Islam reign. The Pope promises that anyone who “took up the cross” would have forgiveness of his sins.

The First Crusade

1096

The First Crusade begins. The Crusaders begin by killing thousands of Jewish people in the Rhine Valley in Germany. (1096)

Nicaea surrenders to Byzantine forces

Jun 19, 1097

It was essential to capture Nicaea in order to gain access to the main land route through Asia Minor to Syria. The crusaders attacked and laid siege to Nicea on May 21 1097. On June 19 the city surrendered to an army of Alexius I. Nicea was the first major Crusader victory

Siege of Jerusalem

Jun 7, 1099

The Siege of Jerusalem took place from June 7 to July 15, 1099, during the First Crusade. This was the climax of the First Crusade, and the successful siege saw the Crusaders take Jerusalem from the Fatimid Caliphate and laid the foundations for the Kingdom of Jerusalem.
The siege is notable for the mass slaughter of Muslim and Jewish perpetrated by the Christian crusaders, which sources suggest was savage and widespread.

Second Crusade begins

Dec 1, 1145

Pope Eugenius III calls for the Second Crusade.The goals of his campaign were put somewhat vaguely, it was a broad appeal for the achievements of the First Crusade and Christians and holy relics in the Levant to be protected. This lack of a precise aim would have repercussions later in the Crusaders' choice of military targets.

The second Crusades attempt to siege Damascus

Jul 24, 1148

The Crusader army arrived at Damascus on July 24th 1148 CE and immediately began a siege. After only four days, though, the difficulties presented by the defenses and the serious lack of water for the attackers meant the siege had to be abandoned. Once again, bad planning and poor logistics were to prove the Crusaders' undoing. The fighting around the city had been ferocious with heavy casualties on both sides but no real advance had been made.

Muslim army crosses the Jordan intent on war with the Christians

May 1, 1187

A large reconnaissance force of Muslims cross the Jordan river with the intent of provoking the Christians into attacking and thus allowing a larger war to commence. The incursion is designed to last just a single day and, near the end, several dozens Templars and Hospitallers charged the much larger Muslim force. Nearly all of the Christians died.

Third Crusade begins

1189

The Third Crusade is formed with the aim of recapturing Jerusalem for Christendom. Although some cities were recaptured, Jerusalem was not one of them.

Crusaders take over Constantinople

Apr 12, 1204

Crusaders invade and sack Byzantine capital of Constantinople, naming Alexius IV as ruler. The crusaders make Byzantine lands into a Latin Empire

The end of the Crusades

1291

In 1291, one of the only remaining Crusader cities, Acre, fell to the Muslim Mamluks. Many historians believe this defeat marked the end of the Crusader States and the Crusades themselves.